Dawson Cowals has a haunting voice that demands your ear. An artist who can indeed stand "unplugged", Cowals offers a beautiful array of acoustic scores with an unapologetic social conscience. It works. Faith meets fire and speaks to what is missing in the emptiness of many other works. A polished artist with a bright, shiny soul.
- Sue Braiden, CBC Radio
Originally released September 5, 2001, this rerelease of Dawson's seventh full-length album showcases his unique acoustic styling with driving rhythms, percussive tapping, and beautiful finger picking. "Unplugged" offers some of Dawson's most heartfelt songs delivered in a raw and honest format, stripped of any production clutter. His lyrics will quickly draw you in with a vocal styling similar to Dave Matthews and challenge you to examine and hopefully find meaning in your life. From "Sticks & Stones" which warns us to guard our tongues to "Stubborn Man" that humbly admits having to go back around the mountain another time to learn a lesson the hard way. In "I'm Not That Strong" Dawson laments the mistake of taking a close friend for granted and paints the emotions he was feeling in the mind of the listener through his lyrics:
Left standing in the rain / Hope clutched like an umbrella with holes in it / Hair plastered to my face / Can't you see that it's killing me to admit // That I was wrong / Misconstrued that you'd / Be there all along / I was wrong / Without you, I'm on my own / And I'm not that strong //
This rerelease features two new tracks: "Beloved" and "Restore My Soul." All of the songs have been digitally remastered from the original studio recordings. The track order has also been slightly altered to provide a hopefully more pleasing listening experience. If you enjoy acoustic music then you will love the live feel of this CD. All of the songs were recorded live in the studio to capture Dawson's typical coffee shop playing style. For fans of Dave Matthews, John Mayer, or Bebo Norman.
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